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| Re-arching leaf springs? https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27718 |
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| Author: | polkat [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re-arching leaf springs? |
The '73 Dart I recently got has air shocks in the rear. Today I let the air out and the leaf springs went flat (now I see why they were installed). In the old days you could go to a suspension or spring shop and they would re-arch them for you. Is this still commonly done? Can't find a spring shop around here. Thanks! ________ AMC and Jeep transmissions |
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| Author: | Slant Cecil [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:18 pm ] |
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Leaf springs can be re-arched or de-arched. Ask at a big truck or diesel repair shop where you can find a local spring shop. Or you can re-arch them yourself with a couple blocks of wood and a big hammer. |
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| Author: | polkat [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:21 pm ] |
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So your talking about bending them? I thought they took the leaves apart and bent them with heat...? then reassembled them. No? Then again, I suppose heat would take the spring out of them...no? ________ Honda CL350 |
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| Author: | volaredon [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:39 pm ] |
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Yeah they can be. But you might wanna grab a phone book and call around to places that do semi truck/bus suspension work, and get a quote ; teh nice thing about these places is that they have bar stock and can make you up a set of U bolts quick n cheap while you wait (set of 4 U bolts takes <10 min to make; they usually want the remnants if one of the old ones so they can match up diameter length and diameter). Once you get a price from them, (make sure all you need is a rearch; if you have any busted leaves or want leaves added the price goes up; let the shop know this when you ask for the quote or you'll get the "we gotta see em to tell you" line) Once you find out what they want, then check out either ESPO or JCWhitney and see what they want for brand new replacements; the price difference might surprise you, there isn't much. You might then want to opt for a set of brand new ones. This is especially true if you need new bushings, by the time they piecemeal all of that into it it will almost definitely be cheaper to buy new which include bushings. Just don't listen to the spring shop try to pull your leg and quote your new ones, they'll likely be double the price of the other places I mention with their "Mark-up"--- "Profit margin" |
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| Author: | BigBlockBanjo [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:09 pm ] |
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Quote: Leaf springs can be re-arched or de-arched.......
Or you can re-arch them yourself with a couple blocks of wood and a big hammer.   I would assume you joking, right? (Never heard of this before)
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| Author: | polkat [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:18 pm ] |
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Thanks for the replys. Yes, if the price difference between rearching and new ones isn't much, then I'll look for the new ones. Who is ESPO? And are the Whitney ones any good? Thanks! ________ MKT |
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| Author: | slantzilla [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:20 pm ] |
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Quote: Thanks for the replys. Yes, if the price difference between rearching and new ones isn't much, then I'll look for the new ones. Who is ESPO? And are the Whitney ones any good?
I just pulled a set of Whitney springs off my '66 today that have been one there prolly 5 years or better. They are still in good shape. I believe that WHitney springs went up in price considerably in the last couple years though.Thanks! I put a pair of ESPO's on my buddy's '70 Swinger 3 years ago. They appeared to be made by the same place that made my Whitney's. 
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| Author: | polkat [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:28 pm ] |
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Okay, I just went to the ESPO website. Lots of stuff there, but I saw no listings for leaf springs, either on the general website or in the Mopar section itself. What am I missing? ________ BMW K1200R |
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| Author: | RDJ [ Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:56 am ] |
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Quote: Okay, I just went to the ESPO website. Lots of stuff there, but I saw no listings for leaf springs, either on the general website or in the Mopar section itself. What am I missing?
Call them, they have them. I got mine there. The folks that work there are very helpful.
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| Author: | Slant Cecil [ Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:38 am ] |
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Quote: Quote: Leaf springs can be re-arched or de-arched.......
Or you can re-arch them yourself with a couple blocks of wood and a big hammer. I would assume you joking, right? (Never heard of this before)Not joking, just a low buck way to re-arch springs. Spring shops don't use heat to bend springs, they hammer on them, with equipment a bit more sophisticated than 2 blocks of wood and a hammer, but the end result is the same. |
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| Author: | 65Dodge100 [ Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:25 am ] |
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That’s the way they used to do them and I guess some still do. I sent a pair off to be re-arched and they came back with all the rusty bolts intact and the gunk in between the leaves still. I don’t know how they did them but they didn’t take them apart. They work fine, though. Here is some spring arching information that may possibly be a little biased. Danny |
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| Author: | dakight [ Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:17 am ] |
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I've done it myself and it's brutal hard work. I used a piece of 1/4" steel plate and BFH on the driveway. You lay the spring on the plate which lifts it off the surface of the driveway. You hit the spring leaf directly on the lifted area. Move the leaf a couple of inches and repeat. It works really well the only problem is getting the same arch on both sides. At my age and with my knees as they are I won't be doing this again; I'll cough up the bucks for a new set of springs. If you have a shop press it might be possible to use it instead of the hammer on the driveway method. |
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| Author: | Slanted Opinion [ Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:15 am ] |
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Years ago my best friend worked in a truck spring shop. He arched the leafs on my 74 Valiant for me (using a press). Worked very well. 25 years later my '68 Dart had the same flat springs that your '73 has. I bought the Whitney "Hi Lift" 6 leaf set for it. I wanted the 6 leaf set to help with keeping the rear up when I connect my trailer. I've been very happy with them, although I may flip the front hangers to lower the back of the car a bit. The price was right. -Mac |
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:57 am ] |
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See this thread regarding new spring sources. ESPO's a good choice. Re-arching is certainly possible — I had mine done in my '62 Lancer — but with the low cost and wide options in brand new springs, I would not do it again. I'd just get new ones. |
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| Author: | Scott H [ Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | JC Whitney Springs |
I just ordered a set of springs for my son's 80 Volare from JC Whitney. They were drop shipped from John R Spring who I believe was the OEM manufacturer. Std 4 leaf were 59 ea I believe the HD 5 leaf were 75 ea. In case anyone is looking to order springs from JC Whitney I have 2 discount codes that might work for you. Therse were good as of Friday 2/22/08: AECBBX8 for 15% off your entire order SAVENOW for Free shipping You can't combine them and for me the 15% off saved more than the free shipping. But when you set up the order you can run them both and see which one saves more. I just got another one DEDBBX8 for $15 off an order of $75 or more; or $50 off orders of $300 or more. For other online discounts take a look at www.retailmenot.com this site has codes for almost evertyhing, some work some dont but its worth taking a look before you buy. Scott __________________ Scott 1956 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer 1974 Dodge Dart 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab |
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